Important Primary Documents

Summary/Historical Significance:

In this letter, President Andrew Jackson is writing to the Chickasaw Chiefs regarding new legislation in the form of treaties which would force Chickasaw removal from native lands east of the Mississippi. Jackson is no rhetorician, but he expresses many thoughts to the Chickasaw as an attempt to persuade the Chickasaw Chiefs to sign these treaties. He points out that the white population around their lands had increased drastically, which brought forth the threat of intruders. Slowly, the lands of the Chickasaw Nation began to be suffocated by white developments. He advises the Chickasaw that it is in their best interest to move to lands west of the Mississippi. He offers non-taxable land and tranquility for those who relocate, and reaffirms that the stature of those who stay would be labeled as inferior to that of a white man, having to succumb to the laws of the western states. He contradicts himself by stating that “ the laws to which you must be subjected are not oppressive”, despite previously claiming the opposite. The overall historical significance of this letter is that it is the first time we see Jackson talk about using treaties to remove the Chickasaw to lands west of the Mississippi. This would eventually result in the signing of Dancing Rabbit Creek, Cherokee Nation vs Georgia, Treaty of Pontotoc Creek, Treaty of New Echota, Treaty of Doaksville, and the treaty separating the Chickasaw and the Choctaw Tribes. 

Transcription: 

Your great father is rejoiced once again to meet and shake you by the hand; and to have it in his power to approve you of his continued friendship and goodwill. He can cherish none but the best feelings for his red children, many of whom during our late war fought with him in defense of our country. By a communication from your elder brother and neighbors, the Chocktaws, during last winter your great father learned, that in that in consequence of the laws of Mississippi being extended over them, they were under great alarm of their own free will and without any application from him they asked to have their country and retire across the Mipi. The treaty sent by them to him was laid before the senate of the United States and they refused to approve it. The rejection of this treaty was communicated to the Chocktaws by their confidential Major Haley agent. He was instructed by me to do so and was informed by him. This should be made known to them. It was also made known to me by Major Haley that the Choctaws were desirous to see and converse with me on this important subject; and in obedience to that desire I assented to meet them at this place. With regret he now learns they have declined their engagement. Solicitous to avoid every act the tendency of which might be to deceive or impose upon his red children he laid the treaty which was presented to him before the senate with the protest which had them forwarded by the opposite party against it. That all the circumstances might be fully known. It was rejected. Of these things their confidential agent Major Haley was advised and he was requested to make them known understanding from me to the Choctaws. By an act of congress it was placed in his power to extend justice to the Indians to pay the expenses of their removal to support them for twelve months and to give them a grant for lands which should endure “as long as the grass grows on water runs.” A determination was taken immediately to advise his red children of the meaning which we’ve thus placed at his disposal to render them happy and preserve them as nations. It was for this that he asked his Chickasaw and other friends to meet here. You have come, and your great father rejoices to see you and face to face to tell you the truth, and point you to a course which cannot fail to make you a happy and prosperous people. Hear and deliberation well on what he shall say and under the exercise of your own reason and matured judgement. Determine what may appear best to be done for the benefit of yourself and children.

 Brothers, you have long dwelled upon the soil you occupy: and in early times before the white man kindled his fires too near to yours and by settling around, narrowed down the limits of the chase, you were then uninstructed, yet a happy people. Now, your white brothers are around you; they surround you about everywhere. States have been created within your limits which claim a right to govern and control your people of their own citizens and make them answerable to their civil and criminal laws. Your great father has not have the authority to prevent this state of things; and he now asks if you are prepared and ready to admit your delay the laws of Mississippi, make a surrender of your ancient laws, and customs, and peacefully, and quietly live, under those of the white man? 

Brothers listen: the laws to which you must be subjected are not oppressive, for they are those to which your white brothers conform, and are happy under them. You will not be permitted to seek private revenge. But in all cases where wrongs may be done you’re there to demand retreat. No taxes upon your property or yourselves, except such as may be imposed upon a white brother, will be upheld against you. The courts will be open for the mediation of wrongs, and bad men will be made answerable for whatever crimes and misdemeanors may be committed by any of your people or our blank. 

Brothers, to these laws where you headed, you must admit: there is no presentation, no alternative. Your great father can not, nor can his congress prevent it: The states only can. What then? Do you believe that you can live under those laws? That you can surrender all your ancient habits and the form by which you have been so long controlled? If so, your great father has nothing to say. Or to advise. He has only to expect a hope that you may find happiness in the dedication you shall make whatever it may be. His earnest desire is that you may be impacted and preserved as a nation; and that he believes can only be secured by your consent to remove to a country beyond the Mississippi for the happiness of our red friends was laid out by the government a long time since; and to which it was expected we this they would have gone. Where you are, it is not possible you can live content and happy. Besides the laws of Mipi which must operate upon you, and which your great father cannot prevent, white men, continually intruding are with difficulty kept off your lands; and every day inconvenience and difficulty continue to increase around you. 

Brothers, the law of congress usually called the Intercourse Act, has been restored to, to afford relief; but in nation it has failed of success. Our white population has so extended around in every direction, that difficulties and troubles are to be expected. This state of things be documented? Your firm determination only can do it. 

Brothers the only way by which this can be done and tranquility for your people obtained. Is that you leave the Mipi to a country in which all people are equal if not answers to the one you have. Your heart. Thee will piece it together forever, that free from descrimination. It will belong to you and to your children where shall expect a nation. 

Brothers there is no unkindness in the offer made to you. No meaning or wish is had from your lands, but rather to advise you to your own interest. The attachment you feel for the soil which incompasses the bones of your ancestors is well known. Our forefathers had had the same feeling, when a long time ago, to obtain happiness they left their lands beyond the great waters and sought a new and quiet home in distant and unexplored regions. If they had not done so, where would have been their children; and where the prosperity they now enjoy. The old world would secretly have opposed support for a people, who by the change of country, their fathers made have become prosperous and happy. In structure time, will it be with your children. Old men around to energize and lead your children to a land of promise and of peace, before the great spirit shall call you to die. Young Chiefs forget the prejudices you feel for the soil of your birth, and go to a land where you can preserve your people as a nation! Peace invites you there! Annoyance will be left behind. Love them your limits no state or authority whereby to distance you will be permitted. Intruders, traders, and above all ancient spirits so destructive to health and morals, will be kept from among you, only as the laws and customs of your nation may sanction their redemption. And that the weak may not be appreciated by their strong and more emphatic neighbors care shall be taken, and anticipations make that the United States by arms, if necessary will preserve and maintain peace amongst the tribes, and guard them from the thoughts of enemies of every kind, whether white or red.

Brothers listen these things are for your learned condemnation and it takes you well to think of them. The present is at the time in which you are upheld to do so. Expect the opportunity which is now offered to obtain comfortable houses, and the time may soon fall away when such advantages as are heard another seen may it not again be presented. If the course you now produce this shall be the case, then call not upon your great father hereafter to relieve you of your troubles; but make up your minds convincingly to remain upon the lands you occupy and be subject to the laws of the state where now resides to the extent that his own conditions are. This you expect it to complain no more hereafter for it will be ceded and annacomidated. Be a long years by becoming accustomed with the whites, your national character will be lost; and then like other tribes who have gone before you must disappear and be forgotten. 

Brothers! If you are disposed to remorse may so, and state the terms you may consider just and equitable. Your great father is ready and has vanished to his correspondence, admit such as shall be considered liberal, to the exact that he can calculate the senate will sanction and terms of any character it would be. Consent for your appearance of argument to be made would be proved. 

Summary/Historical Significance:

In Andrew Jackson’s annual speach to congress, he’s talking about the recent success of the Indian Removal Act. So far, two out of the five tribes have signed treaties to relocate to lands west of the Mississippi. With this comes wealth and prosperity to the states east of the Mississippi, and allows for rapid expansion and advancements. This tragic relocation would result in the deah of 3,500 Chickasaw peoples. The historical significance of this speech to congress is that the success of the Indian Removal Act is starting to become apparent. Soon, the Chickasaw Nation would be living in a smaller territory with a smaller population.

Transcription: 

It gives me pleasure to announce to Congress that the benevolent policy of the Government, steadily pursued for nearly thirty years, in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is approaching to a happy consummation. Two important tribes have accepted the provision made for their removal at the last session of Congress, and it is believed that their example will induce the remaining tribes also to seek the same obvious advantages. The consequences of a speedy removal will be important to the United States, to individual States, and to the Indians themselves. The pecuniary advantages which it promises to the Government are the least of its recommendations. It puts an end to all possible danger of collision between the authorities of the General and State Governments on account of the Indians. It will place a dense and civilized population in large tracts of country now occupied by a few savage hunters. By opening the whole territory between Tennessee on the north and Louisiana on the south to the settlement of the whites it will incalculably strengthen the southwestern frontier and render the adjacent States strong enough to repel future invasions without remote aid. It will relieve the whole State of Mississippi and the western part of Alabama of Indian occupancy, and enable those States to advance rapidly in population, wealth, and power. It will separate the Indians from immediate contact with settlements of whites; free them from the power of the States; enable them to pursue happiness in their own way and under their own rude institutions; will retard the progress of decay, which is lessening their numbers, and perhaps cause them gradually, under the protection of the Government and through the influence of good counsels, to cast off their savage habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian community. What good man would prefer a country covered with forests and ranged by a few thousand savages to our extensive Republic, studded with cities, towns, and prosperous farms embellished with all the improvements which art can devise or industry execute, occupied by more than 12,000,000 happy people, and filled with all the blessings of liberty, civilization and religion. The present policy of the Government is but a continuation of the same progressive change by a milder process. The tribes which occupied the countries now constituting the Eastern States were annihilated or have melted away to make room for the whites. The waves of population and civilization are rolling to the westward, and we now propose to acquire the countries occupied by the red men of the South and West by a fair exchange, and, at the expense of the United States, to send them to land where their existence may be prolonged and perhaps made perpetual. Doubtless it will be painful to leave the graves of their fathers; but what do they more than our ancestors did or than our children are now doing. To better their condition in an unknown land our forefathers left all that was dear in earthly objects. Our children by thousands yearly leave the land of their birth to seek new homes in distant regions. Does Humanity weep at these painful separations from everything, animate and inanimate, with which the young heart has become entwined. Far from it. It is rather a source of joy that our country affords scope where our young population may range unconstrained in body or in mind, developing the power and facilities of man in their highest perfection. These remove hundreds and almost thousands of miles at their own expense, purchase the lands they occupy, and support themselves at their new homes from the moment of their arrival. Can it be cruel in this Government when, by events which it can not control, the Indian is made discontented in his ancient home to purchase his lands, to give him a new and extensive territory, to pay the expense of his removal, and support him a year in his new abode.  How many thousands of our own people would gladly embrace the opportunity of removing to the West on such conditions If the offers made to the Indians were extended to them, they would be hailed with.